Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-27

think that ne actually asked nertO mar
Nv him, that they have been engaged
for weeks, and that-oh, how could !
he so base as to take him from her ?"
"Wby did be ask her? / can't an
stand that" father said fretfuIly.
s.It was oil Aunt Hildas doing. She
was always angry with Gilbert and me.
Angry with him because she fancied he
stood between her and her pet plan OF
getting me well married angry with
me because ] would not go back with
her when she wanted me. She had cut
Cilbeit long ego; hut when he came
into his title she took him up again. L
don't know what she meant by IL, per
baps nothing at the frst-but Lucy
was there, and STUNT is an inyeterate
matchmaker, and | suppose she saw
her wey TO punish me for not being
there also.
"But : ir Gilbert should not have
heon mere tool in the hands Of your
Aunt Hilda," father answered Sc
vtrely.
rto. she should not but If We
never II abe mistakes there would be
less pain IN the world. And You must
not lie too hard on him he really was
fond Of Lucy, and meant to make her
harry, end only for the unfortunate
mistake of his coming here all would
have been we'll But the chief fault IL
mine | should have gone away when
/ knew be was coming only that had
no Place to goto.
suppose things did not look quite
so black when father and Marion had
tolked them over, nor every one 50 cul-
pable, for father wrote to Gilbert that
evening, and bis letter was friendly il
little stiff and cold. Ii was unfortunate
that Sir Gilbert had mistaken his feel
ipgs for nae, he said, hut since | was
wiling to accept the fact Of the mistake
and forgive it he thought We might all
be very good friends in the future.
in another week cautious letter
came for Marion. Would she try ami
think kindly of the writer, and, when
she thought he had been punished
enough for oil the mistakes he had
made. would she write and say she for
gave him? Till then he would mani
fest his sense of guilt by his patience.
Marion took several days to ponder
her reply, but when she did write her
letter was frank and kind. She WAS
very sorry for him, very sorry for me,
and little sorry for herself but she
did not think anything that had gone
wrong could be rectitied by childish
ness and pretence. She loved him rs
much as she had ever done, and when
time bad taken the edge of every ones
pain she would be his wife but till
then she thought it was better that he
and she should seem to forget each
other.
Gilbert accepted her opinion and
went abroad, and it was not till year
after that he and she were married
quietly in the parish church at Mud
ford, father officiating, and Christie
acting as solitary bridemaid. was
present, with mother, sitting in one OF
the pews neai the altar, and | thought
it sad little ceremony, as sad as many
funeral.
Aunt Hilda came TO see us after the
wedding, and said many severe things
of both bride and bridegroom, and
sneered at me because | had been poor
spirited enough to let Gilbert go when
had won him, but when she askedme
10 90 back with her again and see II
there were not better men than Gilbert
Leslie to be had for the seeking, /
showed her that l was not so meek az
she had thought.
Il never was happy in your house,
and never wish to see it again., /
said. "And as to your kindness in
taking up mothers children one after
the other, to make them eat humble
pie and obey you, / don't think 1t any
kindness, but just a solace to your con
science"
"And why should my conscience sui-
fer ?" Aunt Hilda asked with her slight.
cold smile.
ooh, people like to feel themselves
beneficent, and it is easier to patronize
mother that way than to halye your for
tune with her, as You ought"
Aunt Hilda shrugged her shoulders,
said it was wasted kindness to try 10
serve me, and ignored me during the
remainder of her visit. And after she
Rad LETT mother scolded me for trying
to ALLEVIATE the only one of her family
WHO had been kind to her.
Mother was dreadiully afraid that
Aunt Hilda was offended past recall, -
that when she wrote at the beginning
of the following season, and offered 10
take Ch1issie up to town and bring her
ont. mother was overwhelmed with
gratitude. it is wonderful to me how
these obstinate, independent people
manage to coerce the judgment OF
others.
Chrissie went of course, and now the
society papers have it that " Lord Stel-
fox Will shortly lead to the altar the
beautiful granddaughter The late Lord
Hurst" We have not, however, had
any private confirmation OF This bit OF
gossip, and have not, therefore, accept
ed it yet.
Shortly after Marion's marriage
father was offered the beautiful living
of Maplewood, which OF course he ac-
copied thankfully; and after We had
been installed there some time Marion
came to pay rs visit.
She is happy now, there j. no doubt
OF that 4: and il she talked little of Gil
bert and their life together that was
only TO spare my feelings, | knew.
1t was dining Her stay that Mr.. Drew
paid lis his third visit, and he was -
brotherly with her that | think she sus-
pected something, and after he hal
gone she took me aside and said "
want you TO tell me, Lucy, that you ar
going to make that good man happy
And | said at is dreadfully COM
monplace of me, know, and if | were
heroine such thing would be i'm
possible but not being a heroine l
suppose Imay as well admit that in The
spring am going to marry Mr.. Drew